South Island - New Zealand

Wanaka is a town in the Central Otago region of
the South Island of New Zealand.
It is situated at the southern end of Lake Wanaka,
adjacent to the outflow of the lake to the Clutha
River.
It is the gateway to Mount Aspiring National
Park.
Wanaka is primarily a resort town but has both
summer and winter seasons and is based around
the many outdoor opportunities.
Due to the growing tourism business and the
increasing number of retirees in Wanaka, there
is massive growth occurring, up to 50% in
10 years.

The town is part of the Queenstown-Lakes District
and was originally settled during the gold rush
excitement of the 19th century.

History
The lake was first seen by a European in 1853,
Nathanial Chalmers, but he was guided by a sketch
map from Chief Te Huruhuru at Waimate.

This area was first settled by Europeans in the
1850s, with initial settling focusing around
Albert Town.
This was the only spot to ford the Clutha
River.
First surveying of the current Wanaka site occurred
in 1863.
Settlement increased in Pembroke (the old name for
Wanaka) in the 1870s because of the amount of timber
milling in the Matukituki Valley and the use of Lake
Wanaka for transport.
Tourism started in the town in 1867 with the opening
of the first hotel, by Theodore Russell.
The site proved very popular for tourism because of
its temperate climate and easy access to snow and
water.

Geography
The town of Wanaka is situated at the Southern end
of Lake Wanaka.
It is surrounded by mountains.
To the southwest of the town is Queenstown(120 km
(75 miles)), to the north Haast Pass cuts through
the Southern Alps near Makarora.
To the northeast are the towns of Omarama and
Twizel.
Very close to Lake Wanaka there also is Lake Hawea,
in a parallel glacial valley, which also has a
recently developed settlement of about 1,500
people.
To the south of the town lies more of the Southern
alps but close to the town is the Glendu Bay motorpark,
leading into the Matukituki River valley.
This gives access to the Mount Aspiring National
Park.

The centre of the town is on flat , floodwater at the
head of the lake. Parts of the town then grow up into
the hills around the town and also around the lake in
both directions.
This lake makes parts of the town prone to occasional
flooding in spring, when heavy rain and snowmelt can
cause the lake to rise dramatically, such as those in
November 1999.

Climate
Wanaka is one of the few areas in New Zealand to enjoy
a continental climate, with four distinct seasons.
The weather is fairly dry with spring (September-December)
bringing the wettest months.
Annual rainfall is 682 mm which is half the national
average.
Wanaka experiences hot dry summers where the temperature
can reach the high 30s but averages 24°C.
Winter tends to have clear calm days with highs
around 10°C.

Attractions
These days, with its beautiful lake and mountain views,
Wanaka has become a popular tourist resort, loved by
many for being less commercialised than
Queenstown.

Wanaka boasts a growing number of excellent restaurants,
cafes and a diverse nightlife.
Other attractions in the town include Puzzling World and
the Paradiso Cinema.
Puzzling World contains a 3d maze, optical illusions and
a leaning tower.
The Paradiso is a classic old cinema, with seating of old
coaches, chairs and a car.
There are a number of wineries in the area.

Festivals

* The biennial Warbirds over Wanaka airshow, has
become a major attraction for national and
international guests.
* Wanakafest
* NZ Freeski open
* The biennial New Zealand music Rippon
Festival

Summer
Wanaka is host to some of New Zealand's best outdoor
recreation with world-class mountain biking, hiking,
climbing, mountaineering, fishing, paragliding, and
watersports of all kinds.
With one of New Zealand's sunniest climates, Wanaka
is truly an adventure paradise.
It is the access point to the highest mountain outside
of the Mount Cook region, Mt Aspiring.

Mount Aspiring National Park is very popular for the
mountaineering and hiking options.
Day trips are very common for most tourists and many
people will be found in the park for up to a week at
a time.
The other parts of the Matukituki Valley are popular
for the rock climbing and walking
opportunities.

Lake Wanaka itself is popular for waterskiing,
wakeboarding and sailing.
This along with the local rivers provide many
opportunities for fishing.
There is a dedicated mountain biking area made
by volunteers in a local pine forest.
All the local ski resorts open for mountain
biking and hiking in the summer.

Winter
Wanaka has the broadest range of snow activity
choices of any town in NZ.
These include Treble Cone, Cardrona Alpine Resort,
Snow Park and Snow Farm, some of New Zealand's
premier commercial ski fields.
Wanaka is the main accommodation provider for these
resorts and so is very busy in high season
(July-September).

Treble Cone has a reputation among New Zealanders
as having the best lift accessed terrain in the
country and for this reason has developed a cult
following, 'ConeHeads'.
It also catches some of the better snow in the area,
with its location and orientation getting more snow
from NW storms.
Cardrona is more attractive to families and beginners,
though an attempt has been made at the park riding
population in competition with SnowPark.
Snowpark is a dedicated 100% man made terrain park for
advanced riders.
Snow Farm is New Zealand's only commercial cross-country
ski field.

People
The town is experiencing considerable growth.
According to the 2006 census the permanent resident
population of the area is 6900, an increase of
approximately 50% in five years.
This is helped in part by the nearby towns of Hawea,
Albert Town and Luggate, all within 10 minutes of
Wanaka.
The number of retirees in the town is above average
for New Zealand, with 16.8% of the towns population
aged over 65.
New Zealand's normal rate is 12.1%.
About 39% of the town's population had some form of
post school qualification, about 3.5% above the
national average.

97% of people from Wanaka claimed to be of European
heritage, about 17% above the national average.
The unemployment rate was exceptionally low in Wanaka,
at 2.9%, compared to 3.7% for New Zealand.
The number of couples without children was close to
16% above the national average, while the number
with children 7% lower.

Politics
Wanaka is part of the Otago electorate.
This electorate is currently represented by the New
Zealand National Party's Jacqui Dean.
However, in the 2008 elections, Wanaka will be
separated from Queenstown which will become part of
Clutha Southland while Wanaka is part of the new
Waitaki electorate.

Transportation
Wanaka is serviced by Wanaka Airport as well as
roads over Crown Range, from the West Coast and
to the north.
There is served at least one flight daily to
Christchurch by Air New Zealand.

During the 20th century an unsuccessful proposal
was made for the Otago Central Railway to be
extended to Wanaka.

For more information about
Wanaka see Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia